Cementing process and apparatus



Aug. 13, 1935. w A, SMITH 2,010,934

GEMEI ITING PROCESS AND APPARATUS Filed April 13, 1954 I/IBRA TOR INVENTOR l/Vfl/lam A. Jm/f/z agaw ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 13, 1935 PATENT OFFICE.

CE'MENTING rnoon'ss arm APPARATUS William A. Smith, Akron, Ohio, assignor to The Ohio Brass Company, Mansfield, Ohio, a cor poration of Ne'wJersey H Application April 13, 1934, Serial'No. 720,395

- This invention relates to a method and am ratus for assembling devices having parts secured together by cement, such as electric insulators. Oneobject of the invention is to provide a l method and apparatus by which strong and uni- .for'm connection may connected parts.

be obtained between the Another object of the invention is tojinsure gas-and air fromthe'connecting cement to insure dense and'uniform structure of the cement.

4, A further object of the invention is to prevent 13" relative displacement of the connected parts during curing of the cement. A'further object of the invention sembling insulators and'other devices having the 20% parts thereof cemented together.

companying drawing and described in the fol lowing specification and by the steps of the process explained in the specification and illustrated in the drawing.

"The novel features of the-invention are more 30 particularlypoin'ted out in the appended claims.

. .In the drawing the figure-is an elevation with parts in's'ection showing one form of apparatus for practicing the invention. g

.In the manufactureof electric insulators and other devices having parts connected together ,b'ycement, and particularly in the manufacture of insulators designed for supporting heavy me chanical loads, it is highly desirablethat the ocmentconnectingthe parts shall be of uniform character without air pockets or otherflaws in its texture, and that the parts shall be correctly aligned relative to one another and maintained in such alignment during the curing of the cement, or at least until the cement has become 463 suificiently hardened so that there is no further danger of interfering with the curing by relative movement of the parts. TheseQand other results, are accomplished by the present invention,

as will be apparent from the following descrip- 50 tion.

In the drawing the. numeral l designates, by way of illustration, the dielectric member of one form of insulator having a supporting cap I I con nected thereto by cement l2; The drawing illustratestheimethod' of securing the pin 13in, the

icorrect, and uniform positioning of the connected .10 parts? 1 l v A further object of the invention is to remove is to pro vide animproved process and apparatus for as" (01. 1 8-1) d recess of the dielectric member H! by means of cement I4. An assembly press or jig is provided with a seat l5 for receivingthe cap H; the seat being shaped to engage the cap and hold it firmly in position A pin l6 may be provided in the base of the seat 'for entering a recess I'I, commonly provided in the cap, and by means of which thecap is supported-in use. "The pm l6 will insure proper alignment of the axis of the cap relative to the seat IS.

The assembly jig is provided with an arm or standard I8 provided with a socket I9 in which a spindle or plunger 2|] is mounted for vertical sliding movement. The spindle 20 is raised or lowered by a lever 2 I, pivoted at 22 on the standard IS. The spindle 20 may be provided with a spring 23 which automatically raises'the spindle so that in operation the lower end of the spindle, together with .the operating head, is normally held away from the seat l5 to permit ready insertion of the insulator and its cap within the seat. The lower end of the spindle 20 carries a suction head 24 towhich a suction tube 25 is connected for exhausting the interior of the head. A suitable valve 26 is provided for controlling the passage between the head 24 and the suction hose 25. A collar 21 is provided with a tapered seat 28 shaped tom the mouth of the'suction head 24 and to form an air tight joint between the suction head and the interior of the collar. The lower rim of the collar has a rubber or other packing ring 29 fixed thereto, and of a size and shape to fit. the face of the insulator surrounding the recess therein for receiving the pin. The collar orkeeper 21 is provided with a reduced neck portion 30 which fits the head 3| of the pin 13 so as properly to align the pin in its .recess when the collar is in place. By-pass openings 32 are provided in the neck. of the collar about the head 3| to permit the space about the pin to be exhausted by the suction head 24. A spring 33 is secured within the suction head in position to bear upon the end of the pin and resiliently press it down in its recess.

In operation the insulator with the cap secured thereto is placed-in the seat l5 and a suitable amount of cement is deposited by hand, or in any desired manner, in the recess of the dielectric member 10. The pin I3 is then pressed into the cement and the collar 21 placed in position over the head of the pin. This will properly align the pin relative to the dielectric member since the lower rimoi the collar fits in a recess in the surface of the dielectric flange, which is concentric with the y, axis of the dielectric member. The

the lever 21 until it engages the seat 28.

leaving the collar 2? in place.

suction head 24 is then moved downwardly by This will cause the spring 33 to engage the end of the pin it and insure its proper immersion in the cement i i. Sufficient pressure is exerted on the handle 2% to compress the rubber 29 and insure air tight closure of the space about the pin 38. The valve 26 is then opened to exhaust the air from the space about the pin l3 and above the cement M. This will tend to withdraw any air or gas which may be caught in the cement and remove all bubbles or air pockets. To facilitate theremoval of air or gas from the cement and to settle the cement in the recess in the dielectric member I t about the pin is, the piece is submitted to vibration during the same time that it is subject to reduced pressure. The vibration may be produced in any suitable manner.

In the form of apparatus illustrated, the entire assembly jig is mounted upon a vibrator base 34 having a supporting stem 35 for the assembly jig and upon which the entire assembly apparatus is mounted, The housing 34 may be provided with any suitable mechanical or electrical vibrator apparatus for imparting vertical vibratory movements to the stem 35. The rate of vibra tion may vary through a wide range, but I have found that a vibration of from 15 to 20 cycles per second produces effective results. The vibration of the cement during the application of the reduced pressure thereto greatly facilitates the removal of air pockets and the settling of the cement into a uniform homogeneous mass.

By subjecting the cement to vibration and at the same time to a partial vacuum, it is possible to use a smaller percentage of water in the cement mixture so that a denser and stronger cement is obtained, as well as one free from flaws and air pockets. After the cement has been subjected to the combined action of vibration and suction, the vacuum may be broken by the valve 26, permitting air to enter the suction head so as to relieve it from pressure, whereupon the spring 33 will raise the head from the seat 28, The plunger 26 is then lifted by the spring 23 or by the handle M a sufficient amount to permit removal of the insulator together with its collar 21. The collar 27 is permitted to remain in place until the cement has sufiiciently hardened to prevent accidental disturbance thereof. This prevents any weakening of the cement, due to accidental disturbance, during the process of'setting and also insures proper alignment of the pin relative to the axis of the insulator, both of which features are of paramount importance in securing an insulator of high mechanical strength. Uniformly dense cement without flaws or air pockets obtained by the process also greatly adds to the uniform strength of the insulators obtained by the. process. 1

Portland cement is commonly used for connecting togethe. insulator parts, but it will be understood that the invention is not restricted to theparticular apparatus shown or to the particular form of cement used, except as pointed out in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. The process of assembling insulator parts comprising the steps of positioning said parts relative to each other with freshlymixed cement interposed between said parts, properly locating said parts relative to each other by means of a keeper engaging each of the assembled parts and permitting the keeper to remain in position during curing of the cement.

' 2. The process of assembling an insulator pin in a recess in a dielectric member comprising the steps of inserting the pin in said recess with freshly mixed cement surrounding said pin in said recess, centering said pin in said recess by means of a keeper engaging said pin and said dielectric member and permitting the keeper to remain in position for holding said pin and dielectric memher in proper relation relative to each other during curing of the cement.

3. The process of assembling an insulator pin in a recess in a dielectric member comprising the steps of inserting the pin in the recess with freshly mixed cement surrounding the pin in said rccess, centering said pin in said recess by means of a collar having concentric portions engaging said pin and said dielectric member and permitting said collar to remain in engagement with said pin and dielectric member for holding said pin in properly aligned relation to said dielectric member during initial curing of said cement.

4. The process of assembling an insulator comprising the steps of inserting a pin in a recess in a dielectric member with freshly mixed cement surrounding said pin in said recess, placing a centering collar over said pin in contact with said dielectric member, closing said centering collar to atmosphere and exhausting air therefrom for extracting air from said cement.

5. The process of assembling an insulator comprising the steps of inserting a pin in a recess in a dielectric member with freshly mixed cement surrounding said pin in said recess, positioning a centering collar in contact with said pin and with said dielectric member for centering said pin in said recess, closing said centering collar to atmosphere and exhausting the space in said centering collar surrounding said pin for extracting air from said cement and at the same time vibrating said cement, releasing the vacuum from said centering collar and permitting said centering collar to remain in position to hold said pin in place during initial curing of the cement.

6. A jig for assembling an insulator comprising a dielectric member having a recess therein and a rib thereon concentric with said recess, a pin disposed in said recess and cement for re-- taining said pin in said recess, said jig including a keeper for centering said pin in said recess,

said keeper comprising a collar having concentrio portions engaging said pin and said rib respectively and adapted to remain in position during initial curing of said cement and after said insulator is removed from said jig.

7. An assembly jig for an insulator comprising a support forv the insulator, a centering head for positioning a pin relative to said insulator, and means for vibrating said support with the insulator thereon and with said centering head in place to hold said pin in position in said insulator.

8. An assembly jig for an insulator comprising a support for a dielectric member having a recess therein, means for centering the pin in said recess, means for closing the space about said pin to atmosphere, means for exhausting said space to reduce the pressure therein to facilitate extraction of gas from cement in said recess, and means for vibrating said insulator while in position in said jig and while subjected .to the action of said exhaust means.

9. An assembly jig for an insulator comprising a Vibrator, a seat mounted on said vibrator for receiving a dielectric member having a recess for exhausting the air from said closed space to iacilitate extraction of air from cement in said recess during vibration of said jig by said vibrator.

10. An assembly jig for an insulator comprising a dielectric member having a recess therein and a pin disposed in said recess, said jig including a collar adapted for engagement with said pin and said dielectric member for centering said pin in said recess, said collar being detachable from said jig while in engagement with said pin and said dielectric member to hold said pin in place in said recess after said insulator is removed from said jig.

11. An insulator jig comprising a table having a support for receiving an insulator, a plunger movable relative to said support, a suction head carried by said plunger, a centering collar adapted to engage an insulator on said support and to center a pin in a recess in said insulator, said centering collar forming a closed chamber with said suction head and'said insulator about said pin to enable said suction head to extract gas or air from cement about said pin.

12. A jig for assembling insulators comprising a seat for supporting an insulator, a plunger having a suction head thereon, a centering collar for positioning a pin in a recess in said insulator,

and a spring carried by said plunger for holding said pin in position in said recess when said plunger is removed from said insulator.

13. An assembly jig for insulators comprising a seat for supporting an insulator, a plunger having a suction head thereon, a centering collar cooperating with said suction head for forming a closed chamber about a pin disposed in a recess in said insulator, means for exhausting the chamber thus formed and means for vibrating the insulator while the chamber is so exhausted.

WILLIAM A. SMITH. 

